Shortland



April 28, 1953 A. SHORTLAND .YARN SUPPLYING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 31. 1951 April 28, 1953 A. SHORTLAND 2,635,366

YARN SUPPLYING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES 4a /6 5 39 22: 2/4//& 2/8/96 /3 /5 Inventor a: 6101M April 28, 1953 A. SHORTLAND' YARN SUPPLYING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 51, 1951.

NN m% r 0 it n e v n I April 28, 1953 A. SHORTLAND 2,636,366

' YARN 'SUPPLYING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 31, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor April 28, 1953 A. SHORTLAND 2,636,356

YARN SUPPLYING MECHANISM FOR rmrmnqmcnmss Fil ed Dec. 31, 1951 I s Sheets-sheaf 5 V I I l nv entor x: B

April 28, 1953 A. SHORTLAND 2,536,365

YARN SUPPLYING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 31, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Apr. 28, 1953 UNITED stares SUPPIJY'ING FOR MAG/MINES Arthur Shorflan cesierfi ilngland.

Appliwfilqn Beccmber 31, 1951-, SerialiNfo.v 26433;];3: In Great Btitain Novemhen 29;,t95d

11 Claims.

' invention nelates; to yarn smelt ng; mechanism for linittme. maohinea. and come ike such. noeohanism-v of: the; hind. adapted afla om 1 cally to introduce a, to, nd fifiific wi h of the. same. from, the needles: at. 19916 determined: times.

It: is principally the intention ta army he intention to a. yam feeding. and; changing. mo ha: capable. oliboing operated selectively" at predetermined. times for the purpose of Silhestituting a. desired one: of a: p m ii M tor another of a. difierent: character, e. an. colour oar/and: count; textureor quality, according: to temairements.

The invention. may accordingly he applied to a. horizontal stmping mechanism Moreover, although btoadly applicable to a knitting ma: chine. of any appropriate. type, it. mainly 111- tended to: apply the invention to; a circular rib knitting machine; either of. the cylinder and or the superimposed needle, cylinder type;

' The object of the irrmentionv is to provide; in a knitting machine, an improved form of yarn supplyingmechanism of the kind referred to adapted to operate in a novel manner, as he hereinafter described.

Broadly considered, the; improved: mechanism comprises, in combmation, a fixed guide through which a yarn from a supply passes. when feeding to the needles or the vmachine, an a'ssooiated yarn. gripper which is movablefrom one: position in which it: grips the yarn and holds it: the hon-feeding position clear of the needles, to another position'in which the yarn, still held bythe gripper, is: favourably disposed'for introduotion to the needles, and. placer means opera able to engage the yarn. so disposed and to take it to the needles.

After the yarn has. been introduced to the needles by the placer, the gripper, without any further movement thereof bodily is suitably actuated to release the yarn. When, on the other hand, the feeding yarn is next required to be withdrawn from knitting, the gripper is actuated to engage and trap the yarn and hold it in its. non-feeding position. Severance of the withdrawn yam may be eifected as a. consequence (filth-S1549).

@i 1611 13; g ide teesiehhavina *1 .0.1 9 a-.a..... .p so andtwhleh that movable from a yarn position. a.nQ-= tee e; po it ons ammo tea 1 ts. m t-elat d fo m. the 1 flippers not the. sak t e nyen. lowing further description will be con this prefierred form oi the mechanism, W hout, however, limitation in this. respeot.

In the easeoai a machine. of the oylinden and dial type, a. yarn placer, having a shank or stem with a hooked operative end may: be located one oftheneedle tricks orgrooves of the dial, in which instance means on the customary dial cam plate, or on an associated part, may be provided for projecting the placerradially from}, and retracting-it into. the dial.

Alternatively; a yarn lacer in the form of a ho e o eq v ent shape pi t ember, common to all of the grippers. may be actuat 1).. hrou a y sui hle. n ermed e o neotionsi eith r rom. the same ean us or controlli g the r hne s, or iron)... separa e meanfi workin in timed elation her w h.-

a epatat arn p acer may be suitably mount d i a s cia ion w ea h. gr pper and. a r nged to. be r cipireeated by ny c nven nt means 40 tithe yarn a thers extend pa alle o each o h r, or h y mayooeverse. on o or wa ds we s amen P 1 16 nab e ach wh n P ated in. its reading position. to be introduced to and nitial y a n by the least, possible umb of needles.

-. the e i r ed term o the. imhro e taro 01 sel ct ng and. qqntrollin the sr pera th means fo el ct ng the ela i movements o the ooe at ye par s of; the er neeta and. n aaproerlate ea es. a so the ent r-me ns t r eaand int edae ng to he need e a iaveur ably disposed 3 71 ate a l c trolled from cam means. mounted whe a a t in. turn ada ted to he tor-he l to annronria e exten at desired intervals of time, c. g. at the dictates of a timing or control chain or equivalent.

Specific constructional examples of the invention embodied in horizontal striping mechanism applied to a circular knitting machine of the cylinder and dial type will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure l is a side elevational view of one form of said striping mechanism showing a pivoted gripper holding a yarn in its non-feeding position and illustrating rotary cam means and intermediate connections for selecting and controlling the yarn grippers,

Figure 2 is a similar side view of the mechanism but showing a selected yarn gripper lowered to dispose a yarn favourably for engagement by the placer,

Figure 3 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view depicting the fixed yarn guides, the placer and a few of the dial needles in the machine, 2

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of so much of the head of the cylinder and dial machine as is necessary to illustrate the application of the invention thereto, the figure serving to show more particularly the means for actuating the placer, and the controlled means for turning the cam shaft at appropriate times,

Figure 6 is a composite diagrammatic plan view of the said placer actuating and control means with the dial cam plate and the top plate of the machine removed for clarity,

Figures 7-10 are detail side views illustrating successive stages in the operation of the striping mechanism,

Figure 11 is a side view, partly in section, of a further form of the invention, and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of one of the yarn grippers included in this further example.

Like parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout the drawings.

In the example now to be described with reference to Figures 1-10, a bracket B constituting a combined feeder plate and latch guard is attached, e. g. by means of screws, to the top of the outer edge portion of the stationary dial cam plate I of the machine. The actual feeder plate portion 2 of the bracket B extends outwards from the top of the latter, whilst the latch guard, spaced beneath the feeder plate 2, is indicated at 3. The feeder plate 2 is fitted with a series of yarn guides in the form of tubular pot eyes 4. These guides, of which there are four in thi example, are thus located above the cylinder and dial needles 5 and 5 respectively on the outside of the needle circle. At a location between the feeder plate 2 and the latch guard 3, the bracket B is provided with a horizontal flange I in which are formed slots 8 for the further guidance of a feeding yarn. The latch guard 3 is formed at one end with an outwardly extending radial extension 9 around which a feeding yarn is drawn as and when taken and knitted by the needles. On a horizontal common fulcrum pin ID fitted in a vertically disposed plate-like bracket II fixed in position upon the top plate I2 of the machine is pivotally mounted a series of four yarn grippers Gone to each fixed pot eye 4. Each gripper comprises a tube 13 the inwardly directed operative end of which is longitudinally split at opposite sides as indicated at I 4 suchwise as to provide opposed inherently springy portions I5 and, contained within the said tube, a longitudinally slidable rod I6. The inner, i. e. operative, end of this rod is formed with a hook ll and at it tail end the rod extends outwardly for some distance beyond the corresponding end of the tube I3. To prevent each hooked rod I6 from turning within and relatively to the relevant tube 13, the rod is fitted with an upwardly extending pin I8 arranged for movement in a slot I9 (Figure 3) cut in the upper side of the tube. Each hooked rod I6 is, therefore, slidable Within its tube [3 to an extent corresponding to the length of the slot I9.

. In this regard, Whenever the rod is retracted to the position where its pin I8 is located at the rear end of the slot I 9, the hooked end of the rod will be accommodated entirely within the tube I3 so that the opposed springy portions I5 exercise a frictional grip thereupon. When, however, the rod is pushed forwards (that is to say, inwardly with respect to the central axis of the machine), the hook I I will project from the split end of the tube I3 to the extent'permitted by engagement of the pin I8 in the front end of the slot I9.: At its tail end, each gripper tube I3 is fixed in a tubular carrier component 20 having an upstanding lug or car 2I drilled with a hole through which the common fulcrum pin It extends. At it rear end each lug or car 2i is provided with an upwardly directed tooth 22 disposed immediately below and inline with a selector disc 23. The four suitably spaced parallel selector discs 23 are centrally bossed and rigidly secured side by side upon a shaft 24 mounted for rotation in a bearing 25 in the bracket I I. The peripheries of the discs 23 have formed therein prearranged notches such as those indicated at 23a in Figures 1 and 2. Now with the tooth 22 of any gripper G engaged with an un-notched portion of the periphery of the corresponding selector disc 23, that gripper will be disposed in its normal raised position shown in full lines in Figure 1: it is in this position that a gripper holds an inactive yarn, such as that indicated at Y, clear of the needles. But assume now the shaft 21% is turned anti-clockwise (as viewed in Figure l) to the extent of positioning a notch 23a in the disc 23 directly over the tooth 22, then the gripper G, thereby selected, will be permitted to swing down to the full line position of Figure 2 in which position the yarn, still trapped between the rod I6 and the split end of the tube I3, willv be favourably disposed for introduction to the needles 5 and 6 by means of a yarn placer 26 hereinafter to be described. Each gripperG is influenced by means of a tension spring S whereby it is swung down whenever the latter is selected by virtue of its tooth 22 entering a notch 23a in the corresponding selector disc 23.

The assemblage of selector discs 23 for selectively controlling the grippers G has associated therewith a toothed wheel 21 which is rigidly secured upon the inner end of the shaft 24, and the notches 21a in this Wheel are adapted to be engaged seriatim by a profiled rib 28a on a cylinder cam 28 secured upon a vertical cam shaft 29. As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5, the cam shaft 29 is mounted to turn in bearings on and in the bracket 1 I and the top plate I2 respectively and, at desired intervals, dictated by a timing chain 38 (Figures 5 and 6), this shaft is turned through a complete revolution at which times the complete assemblage of selector discs 23 will be racked round one step.

Both for controlling the downward swinging movement of any selected gripper G under the action of its spring S, and also for subsequently aiesaace raising the'gril'pper to a position in which it can engage and as a" yarn to bei withdrawnirom knitting}, there is provided at the inner side of the series of vgrippers a pivcted'elem'ent H'fitted" with acomparatively long pin 32 which extends transversely beneath the gripper tubes #3. The tail end of the element St is fulcrummed at 33 upon the lower extremity of a downwardly extending levep'sd which latter at its upper end is rigidly secured to the inner end of a short splm, dle 35 mounted'to turnin a bearing in the bracl:-.

et I l. The spindle 35 projects right through the bracket and has secured upon its outer end a short arm 36 furnished at 37 Figures 1 and 2); with a pin or a roller engaged in an appropriately, 1

contoured track 38 formed in a grooved cylinder cam 39 secured upon the vertical cam shaft 29;"

The pivoted element 3! is at all times maintained more'or less upright, although, for a reason hereinafter to be explained it is permitted a' certain''' amolmt of pivotal movement back and forth inf relation to-vthcllever 34. Such movement of the" element at is' 'goontrollecl by contact of-a pin 4.0,

on the element with an inwardly curved Cami surface Ho defining the lower side of a recess in thebracket l l. The extent of the said movement in both directions is limited by two spaced pins.

H and I2 fixed in the lower extremity of the-v lever 34 and arranged for contact with respecf tively opposite edges of the pivoted element. The.

construction and arrangement of the mechanism so far described are such that immediately prior to each rack of the assemblage of selector discs 23 to ellectselection of a grip er G, the lever 34,

carrying the element St, is initially swung up wardly to a small extent sufiieient to enable the" pin 32 to lift all of the grippers into the chain" swing of a selected gripper under the action 0f its spring S will be controlled by virtue of the} tube l3 of thatxgripper resting upon the downwardly moving pin 32. The selected gripper is then swung up towards its normal rest position;- as the result ofrian upward swing of the lever 34 ancLof coursefa corresponding movement up-i'; wardly of the transverse pin 32. The various movements just described take place during one complete revolution of the grooved cylinder cam .39-as will be more fully described hereinafter. For efiectinggthe required axial movements of the hookedrod-lflfi within the tube 13 of a selected gripper G in timed relation with the swinging movements of the latter about the fulcrum pin;

"(led a bell crank lever 43 a clovvm wardly extending longer arm a of which is rigidlysecured upon one end of a short spindle M mounted to in yet'another bearing in theS', bracket H. The spindle 44 extends right through; thebracket and has rigidly secured upon its oppoe -site end a comparatively short arm 4312M thebell crank lever: 53 which arm .is fittedwith' a pinor aroller such: as 45 engaged in an appropri atelv' contouredifupper track 45 formed inltii'e'i; aforesaid groovedcylinder camfifi, At its lower- "extremity-the downwardly extending longer arm" 43a is provided with a lateral extension Ill adapt-V;

Hl, there is pro ed for action upon the tail end of the hooked rolzl .16 of. an appropriate gripper G for-the purpose 6 oi'pushlngithisliorwardly and cheating-projects tion of its hook ll'irom theirelevant tubeliixidll ashort distance above the lateral extension .41 there is provided on the arm 43:: a further latex any extendingportion 48 the underside .of which is grooved or channeled, as indicated at 49 in Fi tures l, 2 and 3, to receive an upstandingpin 5.! on the rod. (8 of a selected gripper, Thus, as a consequence of'turning movements imparted. to the hell crank lever 43 by the grooved cylinder cam '39, the hooked rod 15 of a selected gripper will be pushed forward and drawn back at appm' priate times by virtue of the grooved or (than? nelled portion 48 acting on the pin 58. Y

The precise phases in a complete cycle of. moves ments of the appropriate grippers and the vyam placer 25 necessary to effect a change of. yarn will be presently described. In the meantime the said placer andzthe means for actuating the same, and. also the controlled'mcans for turning the cam shaft 29 will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6.

Aswill be seen more clearly in Figure 5. the lacer 26 in this particular example is in the form of a slender shank or stem with a hooked operative end 26a. The placer 2B is located in one of the normal needle tricks out in the dial 5!, and the tail end of the shank or stem, which extends radially inwards beyond the inner edge of said dial, is formed with an upstanding actu: ating butt 52. This butt is permanently enazed in a forked outer end 53a of a lever 53 which is pivotally mounted at 54 (see Figure 6) upon the top of the centrally bos'sed dial can rier 55. In Figure 5, the actuating butt of a dial needle is indicated at 56. 'Asdepicted in Figure 6, the top side of the forked lever 53 is formed with a triangularly shaped cam portion 51 the relatively splayed cam laces 58 and 58 a: which are arranged to 'be'acted upon alter naltely by pins 60 and 6!, respectively, fixed to the underside of the horizontally flanged portion 62 of the hub 63 carryin the stationary dial cam plate I or the machine. Accordingly, as the machine revolves, the forked lever 53 will be caused, by contact-of the pins 50 and BI with the cam faces 58 and 59, to make an'oscillaticn as the result of which the hooked operative end of the placer 26 will first be projected outwardh The meansfior rotating the vertical camshalt 29 at desired times includes a leverBQ, which is centrally rulcrummed ,uponja racketfi list? isurc..5-) serving to carry an intermittently driven sprocket 56 over which the timing chain 30 is. Passed. This chain issfltted at predetermined points with lateral studs. such-as 51 for engagement at required times with the toe 54c of the lever B4, The tail end of this lever isconheated with means 68 of any suitable character adapted for action upon an aneularly displaceable ring- 69 embracing the per ph y of the to! plate l2, the arrangement being such that Whollever, owing to the absence of a stud on the chain,

warclly vbeneath the ring. is a bracket 10 beheath. which is .pivotally mounted a spring-lafluenced' latch 'H..1 In its normalpositionishown in Figure 6, the latch 1|. engages and holds in its inoperative position a toothed quadrant I2 ar-,- ranged for co-operation with a'pinion-l3. The quadrant is subjected to. the influence of spring means (not shown) tending to urge the quadrant inwardly. A- free-wheeling dog clutch 14 (operative in one direction of rotation only).is provided between the pinion l3 and-the vertical cam shaft 29; at I5 beneath'the top plate l2 and, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, is furnishedwith a'roller I5 arranged to be acted upon by a cam 11 on the rotary head wheel gear 18 of the machine. Now normally'the roller 76 is held clear of the operative bevelled surfaces of the cam 11 by reason of the engagement of the latch 1! with the quadrant 12. To. initiate rotation of the cam shaft 29 to theiextent of one revolution, the ring 69 is angularly displacedatta time determined by the chain'30 as aforesaid with the result that the latch H is disengaged fromv the-quadrant "thereby releasing the latter and permitting it toswing inwardly so that theroller it: lands upon the. peripheral surface "18a of the head wheel gear 78. This rotates ",the'pinion E3 in its free-wheeling direction so' thatno rotation will be imparted to the cam shaft 29; The next time the cam TI comessround, however, fit will act on theroller l6 and push the toothed qua'drant- I2. outwardly to the extent that it is'reengaged by the latch H and. once again locked in its normal inoperative position. But in' consequence of: the quadrant being pushed outwardly'in this manner, the pinion "i3 is rotated in the reverse direction suchwise as 'to rotate the cam shaft 29 through a revolution. I The movements necessary to effect a complete yarn change, ,zduring'onerevolution of the cam shaft 29,-will now be described. It'will; first be assumed that threeof the grippers are in their normal-rest positions suchas thatshownin Figure l, in which position the hooked rod [6 of each such gripper is fully retracted and the latter is holding an inactive yarn Y in-a non- I feeding position. The fourth and running yarn ,Y (-see Figure l) is feeding to the needleswhilst the gripper-corresponding to this yarn is ina partially raised position withthe operativeend 'of -its-hooked rod is projecting to a small extent only from the-tube l3 and-the'tail end of the said ;rod'on a level with the lateral extension 41 of the arm 43a. To initiate a' yarn change, the bell .crank. lever...43. is first swung forwardly with the result that the extension 41 acts'on and pushes j.forward. the srodfilfi of the partially. raised gripper: as a' consequence, the hook I?! is fully projected from the tube. l3 of this particular gripper in readiness to engage the running yarn Y Next, .the lever 34 is swung forward to lift the pivoted element .3I and thereby cause the upwardly moving transverse pin 32 t o raise .all

four grippers G to the chain line position indicated in Figure 1. This movement lowers the teeth 22 clear of the selector discs 23, whereupon;

'the latter are immediately racked round one step. The gripper thereby selected to position a yarn Y favourably for introduction tothe ne'edles 'is that gripper whose tooth 22 now opposes agar) .in' the corresponding selector 'disc"'-"23.

The quadrant 12 is fulcrummed I effect partial projection of the gripper hook I! from-the gripper tube I3. After the projected placer 26 has'engagedthe length Y of yarn and been retracted to draw the said yarn into the needles, the lever arm 43a swings further forward .to an extent sufficientto efiect. further pro.- jectionof thehook I] from the tube I3 and so release the yarn in the manner depicted in Figure 9. The said hook is thereupon immediately drawn backinto-the tube. Simultaneously, or practicallyso, with the newly presented yarn being taken by the needles,.the rod. |6.of the previously empty gripper (the hook fl of which is nowfully projected) is drawn back, by contact of a further transverse pin 32 on the pivoted element 3! with the upstanding pin IS on the rod (see Figure 2), so that the hook engages the then feeding yarn Y (see-Figure 10) and withdraws the samefrom knitting. As the last mentioned rod is withdrawn for this purpose it not ,only grips the relevant yarn but also cuts it at the side nearest to the needles. It is-convenient here to explain that the transverse pin 32 is fixed in the upper end of the pivotedv element 3|, this pi which-is common to,-all,ofthe grippers, being omitted from Figure Bforfthe sake of clarity. .A backward turning. movement of the element 3| to press on the pin Ill-of the relevant. gripper rod 16 .is, of course, eifected by co-operation of the pin 40. with the cam surface fla aforesaid. At the final phase of thev complete revolution of the cam shaft 29, the hooked end of rod lfiflof theselected gripper is again partly projectedandthe said gripper is raised by thepin 32 towards its normal rest position, thereby completing the sequence oftimed movements necessary to eifect the change of yarn. V In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figures 11 and 12, each'gripper G consists, as shown more clearly in Figure 12, of a straight bar-like member 19 of channelsection *to the closed side'of which is attached anupstanding lug or ear 8&- having drilled therein a hole through'which the'common fulcrum pin extends. The; upper portion of the said-lug or ear 8!) is so'sha'ped-as to provide thereon a suitably shaped nose 8M arranged in line with and to be acted upon by pegs 8| -on a drum-82 mounted immediately above the grippers}- The drum 82-is'mounted for rotation in an intermittent manner about 'a horizontal axis, and the pegs 8| are suitably pre-arranged in a plurality of axiallyspaced circular series or rows-one-to each gripper. The leading end of each gripper is shaped to provide a jaw 83 adapted-for' co- (operation witha small relatively movable-jaw 84 pivotally. mounted within the open side of the channel-section grippen: The leading end "of. ablade spring 85 fitted within the gripper is arranged in contact-withthe opposed inner side .;ofa-tai1.34a' onzthe pivoted gripper jaw. whereby the two jaws 83 and 84' are normally held-closed as, shown in Figure 12. For acting on and pressing in, the tail, 84a; of the; pivoted :gripper jaw 84 gara e needles, and placer means operable to engage the yarn so disposed and to take it to the'needles.

2. In a knitting machine, in combination, at least one set of needles, a fixed guide through which a yarn from a supply passes when feeding to said needles, a yarn gripper furnished with relatively movable gripping parts, means for moving said gripper from one position in which it grips said yarn and holds it in a nonfeeding position clear of the needles to another position in which the yarn, still held by the gripper, is favourably disposed for introduction to the needles, placer means operable to engage the yarn so disposed and to take it to the needles, and means operable to effect relative movement of the aforementioned gripping parts suchwise as to release a held yarn following introduction thereof to the needles by the placer means.

3. A combination according to claim 2, wherein to withdraw the said yarn from knitting the gripper is movable and the relatively movable gripping parts are operable to engage and trap the yarn and hold it in its non-feeding position. 4. A combination according to claim 3, where- 'in" severance of the withdrawn yarn is efiected by a shearing action resulting from relative movement between the gripping parts.

5.- In a knitting machine, in combination, at

least one set of needles-a series of fixed guides through each of which a yarn from a supply passes when feeding to said needles, a correspondingseries of yarn grippers furnished with relatively movable gripping parts and operable selectively for effecting substitution of one yarn for another, means for moving a selected gripper from one position in which it grips the relevant yarn and holds it in a non-feeding position clear of the needles to another position in which the :said .yarn, still held by the gripper, is favourably disposed for introduction to the needles, placer means operable to engage a yarn so disposed and to take it tothe needles, and means operable to effect relative movement of the gripping partsof a selectedgripper suchwise as to release a held yarn following introduction thereof to the needles by the placer means, the eventual withdrawal of this yarn from knitting being effectible by reverse movement of the aforementioned selected gripper and operation of the relatively movable gripper parts to engage and trap the 'yarn'and again hold it in its non-feeding position.

6. A combination according to claim '5,'which includes a single yarn placing member common to all of the grippers.

'7. A combination according to claim 5, which includes cam-operated means, operable in timed relation with the movements of the grippers, for

'eifecting and controlling the relative movements of the gripping parts at the operative ends of such grippers.

8. In a knitting machine, in combination, at least one set of needles, a series of fixed guides through each'of'which a yarn from'a supply rodi having a hook which is projectible beyond andretractible into the operative end of the tubular member, means for moving a selected gripper, from 'oneposition in which it grips the relevant yarn and holds it in a non-feeding po sition clear of the needles to another position in which the said yarn, still held by the gripper, is favourably disposed for introduction to the needles, placer means operable to engage a yam so disposed and to take it to the needles, and means operable to efiect projection of the hooked rod of a selected gripper suchwise as to release a held yarn following introduction thereof to the needles by the placer means, the eventual withdrawal o'f'this yarn from knitting being effectible byreverse movement of the selected gripper and retraction of its hooked rod to engage and trap the yarn and again hold it in its non-feeding position. I

9. In a knitting machine, in combination, at least one set of needles, a series of fixed guides through each of which a yarn from a supply passes when feeding to said needles, a corresponding series of yarn grippers furnished with relatively movable gripping parts and operable selectively for efiecting substitution of one yarn for another, a revoluble assemblage of selector discs, one to each yarn gripper, said discs having thereon pre-arranged formations, controlled means for turning the said assemblage a step at a time, the arrangement being such that a gripper selected by the relevant selector disc is permitted to move from one position in which it grips the relevant yarn and holds it in a nonfeeding position clear of the needles to another position in which the said yarn, still held by the gripper, is favourably disposed for introduction of the relatively movable gripper parts to engage and trap the yarn and again hold it in its nonfeeding position. I

10. A combination according to claim 9, wherein each of the grippers is influenced by spring means by which movement of the gripper in the appropriate direction is efiected, when permitted by the corresponding selector disc.

11. In a knitting machine, in combination, a rotary cylinder, needles in said cylinder, a tricked dial rotatable together with the cylinder, dial needles in tricks of said dial, a dial cam plate fitted with cams for actuating the dial needles, a series of fixed guides through each of which a yarn from a supply passes when feeding to the cylinder and dial needles, a corresponding series of yarn grippers furnished with relatively movable grippingparts and operable selectively for efiecting substitution of one yarn for another,

means for moving a selected gripper from one having a shank with a hooked extremity and being located in one of the needle tricks in the dial, means associated with the dial cam plate for projecting the placer from, and retracting it into the dial' for the purposes specified, and means accepts 'ioprable to effect relative movement-or the gripping partsfof 3 a se1ected =gnpper suehwise as to releasea heldyarn'following introduction thereof to the needles bythe placer, theeventual withdrawal of this yarn from knitting being-e'ifectible by reverse movement of the aforementioned selected pper and operation of the relatively movable gripper parts to -engage and -trap the lyarn'and again hold-it in its non-feeding post "ti'onfi :7 112;, In a knitting machine, in' combination, 'a't leas'tione set 'ofneedles", a series of fixed guides through each of which ajyarn from "a supply passes when feeding to'said needles; a corresponding series, ofyarngrippers furnished with relativelymovabl'e gripping parts, selector means for determining ,selective. actuation of, the grippers to'effe'ct' substitution of one yarn for another at required times-,-=a-"rotaiy cam--=sh-aft, means for turnzmg ;'.the said shaft toazpre-determined en-1- tent at: each of desired intervals of time, timing imeansfor, dictating the intervals at which the shaftis turned, means controlled from-3a cam On the cam shaft for operating the selector means,

the arrangement being such that a selected gripper is permitted to move from one position in which it grips the relevant yarn and holds it in a non-feeding position clear of the needles to another position in which the said yarn, still held by the gripper, is favourably disposed for introduction to the needles, placer means operable to engage a yarn so disposed and to take it to the needles, and means operable from another cam on the aforesaid cam shaft to effect relative movement of the gripping parts of a selected gripper suchwise as to release a held yarn following introduction thereof to the needles by the placer means, the eventual withdrawal of this yarn from knitting being elfectible by reverse movement of the aforementioned selected gripper and operation of the relatively movable gripper parts to engage and trap the yarn and again hold it in its non-feeding position.

13. A combination according to claim 12, wherein an assemblage of selector discs with prearranged formations thereon is provided for selecting the grippers, this assemblage being associated and rotatable together with a toothed wheel the notches in which are engageable seriatim by a profiled rib on a cylinder cam on the cam shaft.

14. In a knitting machine, in combination, at least one set of needles, a series of fixed guides through each of which a yarn from a supply passes when feeding to said needles, a corresponding series of yarn grippers operable selectively for effecting substitution of one yarn for another, each of said grippers consisting of a pivoted tubular member provided with springy portions at its operative end, and, contained within the said member, a longitudinally slidable rod having a hook which is projectible beyond and retractible into the operative end of the tubular member, selector means for determining selective actuation of the grippers, a rotary cam shaft, means for turning the said shaft to a pre-determined extent at each of desired intervals of time, timing means for dictating the intervals at which the said shaft is turned, means controlled from a cam on the cam shaft for operating the selector means, the arrangement bein such that a selected gripper is permitted to move from one position in which it rips the relevant yarn and holds it in a non feeding position clear of the needles to-another deadenin Which-the said yam, am held bathe gripper, is favourably disposed for introduction to'the needles, 'placermeans operable to engagea yarn so disposed and to take it to the needles, on the aforesaid longitudinal slidable rods, levers 'liaving associated therewith parts for action upon said pins, grooved cylinder cams on the rotary cam shaft, said cams having therein tracks in selected gripper to release 2. held yarn followii-1g introduction thereof to the needles by the --placer means, the eventual withdrawal of this yarn from knitting being eftectible by reverse movement of the selected gripper causedby-appropriate operation of the selector means and re traction of the slida'ble rod by the appropriate gro'dvedcylinder cam to engage and trap the yarn and again hold it in its non-feeding position;

'15. A combination according to claim 14, wherein a member movably mounted bn'one oi the levers is provided with an element which extends transversely beneath the tubular members or grippers and functions both to control downward swinging movement of any selected gripper (to dispose a yarn favourably for introduction to the needles) and also to raise the gripper to a position in which it can engage the said yarn when this is required to be withdrawn from knitting, the said movable member being subject to cam control and provided with a second element arranged for action upon pins on the gripper rods, for the purpose specified.

16. In a knitting machine, in combination, a rotary cylinder, needles in said cylinder, a tricked dial rotatable together with the cylinder, dial needles in the tricks of said dial, a dial cam plate fitted with cams for actuating the dial needles, 2. series of fixed guides through each of which a yarn from a supply passes when feeding to the cylinder and dial needles, a corresponding series of yarn grippers furnished with relatively movable gripping parts and operable selectively for effecting substitution of one yarn for another, means for moving a selected gripper from one position in which it grips the relevant yarn and holds it in a non-feeding position clear of the needles to another position in which the said yarn, still held by the gripper, is favourably disposed for introduction to the needles, a yarn placer for engaging a yarn so disposed and taking it to the cylinder and dial needles, said placer having a shank provided with a butt and also with a hooked extremity and being located in one of the needle tricks in the dial, a forked lever which has a cam thereon and is engaged with said butt, a component which is rotatable with the dial and has the forked lever pivotally mounted thereon, pins associated with the dial cam plate for co-opera tion with the cam on the forked lever for the purpose of projecting the placer from and retracting it into the dial, and means operable to effect relative movement of the gripping parts of a selected gripper suchwise as to release a held yarn following introduction thereof to the needles by the placer, the eventual withdrawal of this yarn from knitting being eifectible by reverse movement of the aforementioned selected gripper and operation of the relatively movable gripper parts to engage and trap the yarn and again hold it in its non-feeding position.

1'7. In a knitting machine, in combination, at least one set of needles, a series of fixed guides through each of which a yarn from a supply asse ses :pa'sses when feeding to said needles, a corresponding series of yarn grippers furnished with relatively movable'gripping parts, selector means for determining selective actuation of the grippers to effect substitution of one yarn for another at required times, a rotary cam shaft, a pinion, a free-wheeling clutch by which the rotary cam shaft is coupled to said pinion,- a toothed quadrant with which the pinion is arranged in mesh, a cam on a rotary component of the machine for actuating the toothed quadrant and so turning the'cam shaft, a latch device normally engaged with the toothed quadrant to hold the latter clear of the last mentioned cam, a timing member, connections between the said timing member and the latch device which connections are operable to release the quadrant for actuation by the said cam at the dictates of the timing member, means controlled from a cam on the cam shaft for operating the selector means, the arrangement being such that a selected gripper is permitted to move from 'one position in which it grips the relevant yarn and holds it in a non-feeding position clear of the needles to another position in which the said yarnwstill held by the gripper, is favourablydisposed for introduction to the needles, placer means operable to engage a yarn so disposed and to take it to the needles, and means operable from another cam on the aforesaidvcam shaft to effect relative movement of the gripping parts of a selected gripper suchwise as to release a held yarn following introduction thereof to the needles by the placer means, the eventual withdrawal of this yarn from knitting being efi'ectible by reverse movement of the aforementioned selected gripper and operation of the relatively movable gripper parts to engage and trap the yarn and again hold it in its non-feeding position. I

ARTHUR SHORTLANDQL References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Shortland Aug. 31, 1948 

